Kenya Insights

Tag: Peter Wanyama

  • Court Clears Prof. Amukowa Anangwe of All Charges

    Court Clears Prof. Amukowa Anangwe of All Charges

    Former University of Nairobi Council Chairman vindicated after months-long legal battle

    Former University of Nairobi (UoN) Council Chairperson Prof. Amukowa Anangwe has been cleared of all corruption-related charges that led to his dramatic arrest in May, marking the end of a tumultuous chapter that rocked Kenya’s premier institution of higher learning.

    Prof. Anangwe’s lawyer, Peter Wanyama, confirmed on Saturday that his client had been vindicated after what he described as “trumped-up charges” orchestrated by senior government officials seeking to remove the academic from his position.

    “A couple of months ago, some senior government officials wanted Prof. Amukowa Anangwe out as Chair of the University of Nairobi. They pushed EACC to file trumped-up charges against him,” Wanyama stated. “He was humiliated during his arrest and taken to the Anti-Corruption Court. Today, I am glad to report that the learned professor has been cleared and vindicated.”

    The Dramatic Arrest

    The saga began on May 16, 2025, when Prof. Anangwe was arrested at Kisumu International Airport in the early morning hours and flown to Nairobi. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detained him alongside three other senior university officials over allegations of irregular appointment of Daniel Brian Ouma Okeyo as Acting Chief Operations Officer.

    The other council members arrested alongside Prof. Anangwe included Daniel Brian Ouma, Dr. Ahmed Sheikh Abdullahi, and Carren Kerubo Omwenga. Prof. Anangwe was released on a cash bail of Sh500,000, while the case proceeded through the anti-corruption court system.

    Leadership Crisis at UoN

    The arrests came amid a prolonged leadership crisis at the University of Nairobi that had paralyzed operations at the institution. The controversy centered on Prof. Anangwe’s decision to appoint Prof. Francis Mulaa as both the substantive Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) and acting Vice-Chancellor—appointments the Ministry of Education said contravened the Universities Act, 2012.

    The Ministry of Education, through Principal Secretary Dr. Beatrice Inyangala, had strongly opposed these appointments, stating they were made without proper consultation with the Cabinet Secretary and without following due process. The ministry accused Prof. Anangwe of overstepping his mandate and making unilateral decisions that violated university governance protocols.

    Political Pressure and Resignation

    The pressure on Prof. Anangwe intensified beyond the corruption charges. In February 2025, the Cabinet Secretary for Education had moved to revoke his appointment as Council Chairperson, though the High Court initially blocked this removal, with Justice Bahati Mwamuye ordering Anangwe back to office.

    However, the combined weight of criminal charges and political pressure eventually proved overwhelming. Prof. Anangwe and other council members resigned in May 2025, with sources indicating they “didn’t have an option but to resign.”

    A crucial meeting on May 22, 2025, between University of Nairobi Professors’ Association representatives and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei appears to have been the decisive moment that sealed Anangwe’s fate, suggesting high-level government involvement in the pressure campaign.

    Vindication and Questions

    Prof. Anangwe’s clearing of all charges raises serious questions about the motivations behind his prosecution and the broader governance challenges facing Kenya’s public universities. His legal team’s assertion that the charges were “trumped-up” to facilitate his removal suggests the case may have been politically motivated rather than based on genuine corruption concerns.

    The University of Nairobi, once considered Kenya’s flagship institution of higher learning, has been embroiled in various governance controversies in recent years. The ongoing disputes have threatened to paralyze learning at the university, affecting thousands of students and the institution’s academic reputation.

    With Prof. Anangwe now cleared of all charges, attention turns to the broader reforms needed in university governance to prevent similar crises. The case highlights the delicate balance between institutional autonomy and government oversight in Kenya’s higher education sector.

    The vindication also underscores the importance of due process and the need for corruption-fighting agencies to ensure their actions are based on solid evidence rather than political expediency. As Kenya continues to grapple with corruption in public institutions, the Prof. Anangwe case serves as a reminder that the fight against graft must be conducted fairly and transparently.

    The University of Nairobi, meanwhile, continues to operate under new leadership as it works to restore stability and focus on its core mandate of providing quality higher education to Kenyan students.

     

     

     

  • KMJA Leadership Goes Silent as Attacks on Judges and Magistrates Intensify

    KMJA Leadership Goes Silent as Attacks on Judges and Magistrates Intensify

    The Kenya Judges and Magistrates Association (KMJA) leadership has retreated from public view, leaving judges, magistrates, and kadhis to face mounting attacks and intimidation alone, according to sources within the judiciary.

    The silence comes despite efforts by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to call for calm following recent attacks on judicial officers—efforts that appear to have failed to stem the tide of criticism.

    The controversy began when magistrates and judiciary officers were attacked in Thika and Nanyuki over their bond and bail decisions.

    Under normal procedures, the KMJA whose members depend on the association for support should have immediately condemned these attacks.

    However, the association has remained notably silent, leaving its members exposed to continued criticism and intimidation.

    City lawyer Nelson Havi has transformed his Facebook and social media platforms into what observers describe as “live coverage of attacks” on judicial officers.

    Lawyer Peter Wanyama has joined the campaign from the south, amplifying criticism of the judiciary.

    Havi has previously threatened to expose senior KMJA leadership allegedly linked to high-level corruption in the coming days.

    A survey of social media activity shows that within 24 hours, Havi alone has directed sustained criticism at Justice Nixon Sifuna.

    His colleague Peter Wanyama has similarly intensified pressure on judicial officers, leaving nothing to chance in their coordinated campaign against the judiciary.

    Legal protocols prevent Justice Nixon Sifuna or any other judge, magistrate, or judiciary officer from calling a press conference to defend themselves.

    They can only respond through the KMJA or the JSC both of which appear to have stepped back from defending individual officers.

    This legal constraint has left judicial officers particularly vulnerable to public attacks, with no immediate recourse for self-defense.

    Experts suggest that Chief Justice Martha Koome is occupied with other matters of national importance and is reluctant to be drawn into the controversy.

    “The CJ is busy and won’t want to associate herself with this, as she has been a victim too. The only association that can help is the KMJA, which appears to be inactive,” said a city advocate who requested anonymity.

    As attacks continue, Havi has consistently challenged the KMJA to respond publicly.

    “Where is the KMJA? I dare its leader, Justice Radido, to come out. KMJA under Radido is an epitome of corruption,” Havi wrote in a recent social media post.

    The JSC’s efforts to restore order have proven ineffective, with some activists now planning major protests calling for the suspension of certain judges and judiciary officers.

    The KMJA’s silence has drawn sharp criticism from within the judiciary itself.

    A female judge from the Coast has accused the association of “laxity and betrayal,” urging Justice Radido to resign ahead of December elections.

    “I want to ask the KMJA to vacate office before the December polls. The association has no members’ interests at heart we judges have been left on our own,” she said.

    “The JSC is our employer and KMJA is our defender against both our employer and external attacks. We expected the Radido-led team to do much better, but it’s disappointing.”

    A magistrate from Kapenguria echoed these sentiments, urging the KMJA to return to its core mandate.

    “We contribute to the KMJA to fight for our welfare, but it has completely failed in this regard. I want this association to return to normalcy and address the issues affecting us. It needs to wake up and work,” he said.

    The KMJA was established primarily to advocate for the rights and welfare of judges and magistrates, but members increasingly question whether the current leadership is fulfilling this mandate as the crisis deepens and their calls for protection go unanswered.

    This is a developing story. More updates to follow.

  • Lawyer Peter Wanyama On The Spot For Interfering With Witness In Cohen’s Murder Case

    Lawyer Peter Wanyama On The Spot For Interfering With Witness In Cohen’s Murder Case

    A city lawyer Peter Wanyama acting for Judge Kantai Ole Sankale in court matters is said to be intimidating former Kantai’s driver not to expose him to Authorities.

    In affidavit filed in court,Wanyama together with Kantai’s brother have been warning Jackton Lutoma,the former personal driver to the judge against assisting the Directorate of Criminal Investigations(DCI) in the murder cases of Dutch National Tob Cohen case where the judge is seeking to stop his prosecution.

    “In the recent past I have been receiving incessant calls from the Advocate representing Kantai one Peter wanyama warning me not to talk to DCI on matters involving judge Sankale,” said Lutoma.

    He added that on whatsapp messages, Wanyama has sought that they communicate via his unknown mobile number to avoid instances of their communication being tapped or overheard by curious individual presumably officers from DCI. lutoma has also mentioned Kantai’s brother James Sapuro as another person who has been intimidating him no to honor any summons or invitations from the office of the DCI in fear that he will share his experiences with Sankale.

    Judge Sankale.

    The driver adds that due to continuous threats and calls from the two, he has not been able to enjoy his peace and quiet during his retirement.

    According to him, he has voluntarily shared his personal experiences with Sankale for the period he served as his personal driver to put any doubt to flight and be of help to the course of justice.
    Lutoma said that the judge used to have affairs with different married women and in one incident in Migori county, he was almost killed by angry people after he was found at a married woman’s house.

    Lutoma was Kantai’s driver for three years, he told the court that during his time with the Judge, he was tasked with picking and dropping female acquittances whom the judge never formally introduced to him.

    He said  that it was him who rescued Judge Kantai from the angry crowd who wanted to kill  him by pretending that he had drove to carwash.